TAMPA, Fla. — As Mitt Romney took the stage Thursday to make what is likely his most important pitch to voters in his bid to become president of the United States, he needed to reach beyond the party faithful and persuade undecided voters in pivotal battlegrounds like Colorado that they should not only trust him, but like him.

This is a challenge for Romney in a state that didn't even pick him in the GOP primary contest.

But those Coloradans on the floor Thursday say Romney found his voice and his passion in his 37 minutes of remarks at the Republican National Convention.

"I think it couldn't have been better," said Monica Owens, the daughter of former Gov. Bill Owens. "I don't know how you can watch that and not fall in love with him."

Polls show that voters think Romney is skilled in business and managing budgets. Voters have faith in him with federal deficit issues. They likely know he is a family man with five photogenic children and 18 grandchildren.

But those same polls show his "likability" factor is lower than President Barack Obama's. The president had a 16-point advantage over Romney on whether the candidate "cares about the needs of people like you," according to a Gallup poll released Thursday.

Romney toiled to turn that sentiment around Thursday in his prime-time address that rolled warm family videos and devoted roughly half of the speech to talking about his upbringing, his marriage and humanizing his approach to creating jobs during his time in the private equity industry.

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"What 12 to 15 percent of the swing voters are still having trouble figuring out is, 'Can I trust this guy enough not to drive us over the cliff?' " said Mike McKenna, a national GOP adviser.

"They're trying to get a feel for what kind of guy he is. They don't care about what kind of big thoughts he has on Medicare. But is this guy enough like me, does he get people like me? Do I trust him with the keys to the economy and a couple thousand nuclear warheads?"

"He said everything I am looking for in a leader," said Robin Coran, a delegate from Colorado Springs. "He has given me new hope for the future that he can turn this country around."

Robert Duffy, a Colorado State University political scientist, said this it's smart to lament the divisiveness of politics and emphasize Americans' commonalities.

"The words do not seem overly nasty — he is returning to the 'We're disappointed' in the president's performance, rather than 'The president is an angry divider who practices Chicago-style politics'," Duffy said.

So many of the headliner speeches at the convention this week were devoted to demonstrating Romney's personal side, a side many people — even close friends — have said in news reports is hard to pin down to a broad audience.

Romney's wife, Ann, talked effectively with heart about her and Mitt's early days in marriage and his devotion as a loving husband.

Her speech was so hailed among pundits at the convention that many Tweeters said the "wrong Romney was running" and some delegates said they were excited to vote for Ann in November.

As if following that cue, Sean Conway, head of Colorado's Republican delegation to the convention, said before the speech Romney's goals tonight couldn't be clearer.

"He just needs to (match) Ann Romney tonight," he said. "If he does tonight what she did Tuesday night, he will be a smashing success."

Romney continued to play into the strong family-man role, tearing up when talking about both his parents and his kids.

But observers say the most important moment, perhaps for swing voters, and especially during a carefully crafted convention is the visual impressions at the end.

"I think you could get up there and read a letter to your mother," McKenna said.

"It's not so much what you say ... In the end, when his family comes up on stage, that will be important. He'll be surrounded by people with whom he is very comfortable, and he doesn't always look comfortable."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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